Korowai Tribute

I have blogged about my mothers korowai journey and how it has impacted my life a couple of times now.  Just click HERE to see those stories.

About a month ago, an opportunity arose to recognise her work in this space and as a result I produced this video.  It's a small collection of the many people who have been apart of this korowai journey as a collective.  

Hopefully in the near future, more can be produced and shared, capturing the multitudes as a wonderful reflection of the work their whanau have put into producing something of such beauty.

Happy living peeps!!

Mana - The Power Of Knowing Who You Are

I've been reflecting on my wonderful journey over the easter break on Te Tira Hoe o Waikato.  I blogged about this on WAIKATO TE AWA.

Since that blog I've received a number of questions about the experience and in particular how beneficial it truly was.  

My beautiful cousin Marian attended a Tedx presentation a few months ago at the local university and spoke about her experience the next day over lunch.  I have seen some pretty inspirational Ted talks online and was impressed to see that the concept was being adopted here in the Waikato discussing very real New Zealand topics and issues.  

The next day I saw the following Tedx presentation made by Tama Iti who has seen and experienced some very real issues for maori and more importantly his Tuhoe people.  

For most New Zealanders, Tama Iti comes with mixed views.  An activist, a terrorist, a criminal, an artist, a writer or just a man fighting to keep the essence of what is important to him and more importantly for his people.

The title of the presentation is Mana - The Power Of Knowing Who You Are.

After viewing this video, it made me reflect on many things in my life and what was important to me.  It made me reflect on whether the direction in my life is the right one and more importantly seek advice from those who have lived this life far longer than I have. 

It made me reflect on my easter weekend on Te Tira Hoe o Waikato and inspired me to do something more than just blog about it.  It made me think about the people that surround me and how together we can empower each other to strengthen the commonalities we share.

I am pretty happy with what I found in my reflection but know there is much to improve on.  I have shared some of my views with people who share the same values and ideas as I do and together I am excited with what the future brings for us - watch this space!!

Happy loving, living & learning peeps!!

New Robe Gets New Look

Jayden's room is now finished and we are just going through the process of putting in some finishing touches.  In saying this, I just couldn't wait to share the work she did on her wardrobe.  I picked it up off trademe for $150 and couldn't believe the bargain I got.  Early settler still sells this wardrobe for nearly $1000!!!

The robe itself was in really good condition, but the finish was dark and needed a lift.  Jayden had some big colour decisions to make for her entire room so for this piece her choice was white and henrietta (yes both are annie sloans colours)

Before

Jayden adding her personality to the piece

The finished product

This is a very big piece of furniture so took all weekend to do - especially when the weather has been as cold as it has.

If I am honest, I was a little worried about how it all ties into her room, but once it was completed her vision was on point!!

Happy learning peeps!!!

How To Make A Tufted Headboard

I've always loved the look of a tufted headboard and was pretty excited when I found Aaliyah's one.  I blogged about it in HEADBOARD GETS A MAKEOVER.

Jayden spent a bit of time pinning the headboards she liked on pinterest and after months of trolling through trade me and second hand stores I decided to make one.  (with the help of my wonderful husband and Jayden of course).

Once Jayden picked what size bed she wanted and selected a beautiful linen fabric, then we were all good to go.  Gig measured out a piece of plywood and rounded the edges with a router.

We cut out an old foam mattress that had seen better days to size and glued it to the plywood with spray on adhesive. We then got to marking out the diamond pattern on the headboard and then drilling through the plywood and foam.

Next was the buttons.  The local spotlight sells upholstery buttons that you can cover and we needed 33 in total.  A little tip - these buttons don't work as well with thick fabric (like we had), so we also used some hot glue for that extra stick.

Now for the fun part!  Or that's what we thought anyway.  I started from the middle and working outwards, I threaded the button from the front through each hole to the back of the headboard.  As I pushed the buttons to the plywood, my husband secured the button thread at the back of the headboard with 3 staples. Big tip - try not to pull the material too tight to allow for the pleats to fold and form the diamond pattern.  Repeat until all buttons are completed, working the tufting and secure the fabric to the back of the board.

Gig then cut a few pieces of plywood for the headboard legs and routered the join to fit where the headboard will screw onto the bed itself.  We secured them with my brand new staple gun.  We then cut up some old foam and placed them over the bed legs so the headboard doesn't damage the internal walls, then covered the whole back with an old ripped sheet we had.

Once the headboard was fully covered, the idea was to edge it with some upholstery tacks, but it was so big that the tacks looked lost.  Solution, upholstery cord!!  The first one was stapled in place, then the second was placed inside it and secured with hot glue.

 
The finished product!

If I am honest, it was a challenge to complete and you definitely need at least two people to do the actual tufting. If you have a gang of 3 people doing the buttons, it really helps as well because that alone was a challenge for one person.

The finished photo doesn't really give the headboard justice but I am so happy we finished it and that it looks fabulous in Jayden's room.  Best of all, Jayden loves it too!!

Happy learning peeps!

ELIZABETH PAKI HAGGIE (nee TURNER) - Part One - The Child.

If there is anything in the world that I currently love the most it has to be my beautiful grandmother.  I know I've blogged about my nan a couple of times in REFLECTION OF LIFE and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY but those blogs haven't really given my nan justice really.  They have simply touched the surface. 

In May this year, her journey took a different route and it's fair to say that my beautiful nana is facing some challenges.  Over the months I have been compelled to write something about her but I've just strugged on where to start .. maybe the beginning is the best place and although I have named certain people, it is purely to capture the significance they hold for my grandmother and  how highly regarded they are by her.  I mean no disrespect to them or their whanau.

My nan's father is Paul Turner of Ngati Apakura.  He was the eldest child of John Turner and his second wife Paki Cowell and was born in Awhitu.  Paul had many siblings, in fact over 14 of them, however only one was his full sibling - that being Ngakungaku Turner.

Nan's mother is Rangihinemutu Kupa of Ngati Whawhakia and Ngati Amaru.  She was the only child to Tukahia Kupa and Awetoroa Paki and was brought up by her tupuna in Huntly.  Like her husband, Rangihinemutu had many 1/2 siblings.

My nan was born in Mercer on the banks of the Waikato River in 1929.  This was a time when the great depression had hit NZ, pakeha governed the laws of the land and maori had begun to slowly build on the foundations to resolve the struggles of raupatu.  Although it was a time of stress and despair, hope was strengthening for her people under the umbrella of the Kingitanga.

My nana was the 5th child of the whanau of 6 children.   Sadly when nan was about 3 years of age, her mother became very ill and died.  This had a tremendous impact on my nan and she made no secret that her mother died as a result of a makutu or curse based on greed and selfishness for land.  

Her mum's death left the young whanau devastated and Paul Turner was forced to seek help from his aging mother and two sisters - Ngaku and Mona.   By this time, the whanau had also lost their youngest sibling and the resolution was to split the children.   Nana along with her sickly sister Annie  went to live with their Aunty Mona in Mercer while the other three siblings stayed at Te Kohanga with their grandmother opposite Te Awamaarahi Marae.  The boys, Napi and Bill were to help work the land and for nana's eldest sister Iti her role was to run the home and help care for the kaumatua.

Nana would travel with her aunty and sister back home to visit the rest of the whanau.  She loved being with her siblings and longed to spend time with her father.  When she would return back to Mercer, she spent most of her time with her cousin Wetere Dixon who was 3 years older than her and also living with their Aunty Mona.  

Wetere's mother was Ngakungaku, and nan openly spoke to us about how Ngaku married a man from up north.  From this marriage there were many children however Wetere was the only surviving child.  Nan said that the old people of Waikato believed he survived because Mona (Paul and Ngaku's half sister) travelled north to bring him back to the Waikato.  They believed he was destined for great things!  Wetere stayed with Mona from that point onwards.

My grandmother and Wes grew up together in Mercer and developed an everlasting relationship and I believe its due to their similar tribulations that brought them closer and closer together.  Nana always referred to Uncle Wes as her brother.

As a father, Paul Turner was determined  to provide for his family.  He would walk for miles for work and would leave every morning before dawn and return home well into the night.  His feet would be so sore, his mother would soak his feet in a bucket of hot water every night.  Nan always spoke about how she would try every night to wait until he came home, but struggled.  She made no secret that she loved her father so much that she craved to spend time with him whenever she was able.

Nana Paki, my nana's grandmother become seriously ill and struggled to help care for the young family at Te Kohanga, so she went to live with Aunty Mona.  By this time Aunty Ngaku had returned to the Waikato and married a Kukutai and my grandmother went to live with Aunty Ngaku to help share the load of caring for the whanau.  She was ten years of age when she first met John Haunui.  John was actually nana's relation as they shared the same great grandfather.  He had been whangai'd to Aunty Ngaku and my nan was made to sit on the chair and hold him as a baby.  My nan made no secret that she thought he was the most beautiful baby she had ever seen.  She loved him as if he was her brother and helped care for John.  Unfortunately within a few years, Aunty Ngaku became seriously sick that John was returned to his whanau and my grandmother returned to Te Kohanga to live with her siblings and father.  It's during this time of living with Aunty Ngaku that nana and John formed an inseparable bond that they continued to call each other brother and sister throughout their lives.

By the time my grandmother returned to Te Kohanga to permanently live, her father Paul Turner had remarried. This wasn't something my nana warmed to at all.  She loved her father more than anything and always longed to spend time with him every time he was home.  His new wife had other plans, and didn't want her husband to show affection towards his children and hindered them from spending time with him.  Her step sibling on the other hand was allowed to do whatever they wanted which infuriated my nana even more.

This didn't stop her father and he would spend time with his children whenever he was able.  Nan spoke about how her dad had a special cow that always knew when he was nearly home.  The cow would open the gate and disappear down the road, only to return with her dad.  She quickly learnt that when she saw the cow open the gate, she would run down the road, wait by the bridge, then walk slowly back with her father.  This was a special time to bond with her father and she appreciated this very much.


My nan also speaks fondly of her relationship with her siblings and how much fun they had.  Of course her eldest brother Napi and eldest sister Iti were a few years older than her, so growing up she had a different relationship with them.  Aunty Iti being the responsible eldest sister who cared for them so that they were safe, warm and fed.  Uncle Napi being the young handsome maori in the neighbourhood being eyed by all the woman in the area.  Regardless, they all looked out for each other and made sure they were safe.  I honestly believe they would've all got up to some mischief growing up and can only imagine the stories my nan hasn't told me because I know there are a lot that I have chosen not to share.

Although my nan had lost her mother at a young age, my grandmother always says she had a very good, happy childhood.  She enjoyed being with her brothers, sisters, cousins and especially her father and although she spent a great deal of her childhood living under the iron fist of her aunties, my nan always says her true mother was her eldest sister Iti. 

This concludes part one of my story about my grandmother and I'm already thinking about what part two will look like.  Stay tuned!!!

Happy loving peeps!